Philes Ongori
Encyclopedia
Philes Moora Ongori (born 19 July 1986 in Chironge sub-location, Kiamokama
location of Kisii District
) is a Kenya
n long-distance runner who competes in half marathon
and marathon
events.
Her early career was based in Japan
and she won a number of All-Japan Corporate titles for the Hokuren team. She ran the 10,000 metres for Kenya at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
, but came to prominence in the half marathon in 2008 when she won the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon
in the fastest time of the year. At the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
she won the silver medal
. Ongori won on her marathon debut at the Rotterdam Marathon
in 2011, setting a time of 2:24:20 hours.
, who is a twice winner of the New York City Marathon
. Ongori moved to Japan as a teenager and ran for Yamanashi Gakuin High School. She joined the Hokuren Women's Running Club in 2005 and won five All-Japan corporate titles on the track
for the team, over distances from 1500 metres
to 10,000 metres. She formed part of Kenya's team for the Chiba Ekiden in November 2005 and she ran the fastest opening leg and Kenya went on to win the race. She made her half marathon
debut in March 2006 and won on her first attempt, taking the Matsue Ladies Half Marathon title. Ongori claimed third place at the Sapporo Half Marathon
later that year. She set a personal best of 31:18.85 minutes for the 10,000 m in September in Oita
.
She had her first sub 1:10 clocking in the half marathon at the All-Japan Corporate Half Marathon in 2007, which she won in a time of 1:09:50 hours. She was selected for the 10,000 metres race at the 2007 World Championships
and she finished eighth. The following year she won the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon
; her time of 1:07:57 was the second fastest win recorded on the circuit. This time was the fastest run for the distance by any athlete that year. She was expected to perform well at the All-Japan Corporate Half Marathon, but it was Yukiko Akaba
who took the title while Ongori ended the race in third. She came within a second of her best in the 10,000 m at the Hyogo Relays in Kobe
, edging out Yoko Shibui
.
Her opening race of the 2009 season came at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
and she improved her best time to 1:07:50 to take third place. In May she won at the Sotokoto Safari Half Marathon in Kenya, defeating Helena Kiprop in the process. At the Kenyan Track and Field Championships she was third over 10,000 m, behind Linet Masai
and Lineth Chepkurui
. Her performances gained her selection for the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
and although Mary Keitany went on to take a clear victory, Ongori beat Aberu Kebede
in a sprint finish for the silver medal
. This helped Kenya to the women's team title at the event.
The Abu Dhabi Half Marathon was her major race in 2010 and she was the runner-up behind team-mate Keitany. In March the following year Ongori she ran at the Paris Half Marathon
, but was again second-best behind a fellow Kenyan, this time Peninah Arusei
. Ongori made her marathon
debut in April 2011 at the Rotterdam Marathon
and she outran the more experienced Hilda Kibet
in the final stages to win the race in a quick first-time run of 2:24:20 hours. She was the first Kenyan finisher at the World 10K Bangalore
, taking fifth place behind Ethiopian women.
Her elder brother Peter Isaboke Mogere was also a runner. On 19 March 2010 he collapsed and died after finishing a 5000 metres heat at Ruring'u Stadium, Nyeri
.
Kiamokama
Kiamokama is a small farming community in South West Of Kenya in the Kisii District, Nyanza Province.- People:Most of the people in Kiamokama are Abagusii. They speak Ekegusii, swahili and English...
location of Kisii District
Kisii District
Kisii District is a district in the Nyanza Province in southwestern Kenya. Its capital town is Kisii. The district is inhabited mostly by the Gusii people.- Subdivisions :The County has 4 electoral Constituencies:*Bonchari Constituency...
) is a Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n long-distance runner who competes in half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
and marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
events.
Her early career was based in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and she won a number of All-Japan Corporate titles for the Hokuren team. She ran the 10,000 metres for Kenya at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
, but came to prominence in the half marathon in 2008 when she won the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon
Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon
The ' is an annual road running competition which takes place in early February in Marugame, Japan. It currently holds IAAF Silver Label Road Race status and the professional races attract over 1000 entries each year....
in the fastest time of the year. At the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series.-Organisation:...
she won the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
. Ongori won on her marathon debut at the Rotterdam Marathon
Rotterdam Marathon
The Rotterdam Marathon is an annual marathon that has been held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands since 1981. It has been held in April of every year since the third edition in 1984, and attracts many top athletes. It has also been ranked as one of the top 10 marathons in the world by Runner's World...
in 2011, setting a time of 2:24:20 hours.
Career
Philes Ongori grew up in the same village as another great female long distance runner Margaret OkayoMargaret Okayo
Margaret Okayo is a professional marathon runner from Kenya. She has won a number of major marathons, including the New York City Marathon , the Boston Marathon, and the London Marathon. She has also won the San Diego Marathon on two occasions.Okayo started running while at primary school...
, who is a twice winner of the New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
. Ongori moved to Japan as a teenager and ran for Yamanashi Gakuin High School. She joined the Hokuren Women's Running Club in 2005 and won five All-Japan corporate titles on the track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
for the team, over distances from 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
to 10,000 metres. She formed part of Kenya's team for the Chiba Ekiden in November 2005 and she ran the fastest opening leg and Kenya went on to win the race. She made her half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
debut in March 2006 and won on her first attempt, taking the Matsue Ladies Half Marathon title. Ongori claimed third place at the Sapporo Half Marathon
Sapporo Half Marathon
The ' is an annual road running competition over the half marathon distance which takes place in July in Sapporo, Japan.First held in 1958, the race began as a full marathon competition for men under the moniker of the Hokkai Times Marathon. This lasted until 1973, as it was replaced with a...
later that year. She set a personal best of 31:18.85 minutes for the 10,000 m in September in Oita
Oita
-Companies:*Oita Asahi Broadcasting, a Japanese broadcast network in Oita Prefecture, Japan*Oita Broadcasting System, a television company based in Ōita Prefecture, Japan-Education:*Oita Junior College, a private junior college in Ōita, Ōita Prefecture, Japan...
.
She had her first sub 1:10 clocking in the half marathon at the All-Japan Corporate Half Marathon in 2007, which she won in a time of 1:09:50 hours. She was selected for the 10,000 metres race at the 2007 World Championships
2007 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 10000 metres
The women's 10,000 metres event at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics took place on 25 August 2007 at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan.-Medallists:-Records:-Results:-References:* - IAAF.org...
and she finished eighth. The following year she won the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon
Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon
The ' is an annual road running competition which takes place in early February in Marugame, Japan. It currently holds IAAF Silver Label Road Race status and the professional races attract over 1000 entries each year....
; her time of 1:07:57 was the second fastest win recorded on the circuit. This time was the fastest run for the distance by any athlete that year. She was expected to perform well at the All-Japan Corporate Half Marathon, but it was Yukiko Akaba
Yukiko Akaba
is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres, half marathon and marathon events.She won the silver medal in half marathon at the 1999 Summer Universiade. At the 2001 Summer Universiade she finished eighth in the 5000 metres and won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres...
who took the title while Ongori ended the race in third. She came within a second of her best in the 10,000 m at the Hyogo Relays in Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, edging out Yoko Shibui
Yoko Shibui
is a long-distance runner from Japan, who is competing in the 5000 and 10,000 metres as well as the marathon race. She holds the Japanese record over 10,000 m with her best time of 30:48.89 minutes...
.
Her opening race of the 2009 season came at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.The first edition, in 2007, saw Samuel Wanjiru breaking the world record, but Wanjiru himself set a new world record only a month later in another race...
and she improved her best time to 1:07:50 to take third place. In May she won at the Sotokoto Safari Half Marathon in Kenya, defeating Helena Kiprop in the process. At the Kenyan Track and Field Championships she was third over 10,000 m, behind Linet Masai
Linet Masai
Linet Chepkwemoi Masai is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in track and cross country running events...
and Lineth Chepkurui
Lineth Chepkurui
Lineth Chepkurui is a Kenyan long distance runner.At the 2008 World Cross Country Championships she finished eleventh in the individual race, however this was not enough to be a part of the Kenyan team, who won silver medals in the team competition...
. Her performances gained her selection for the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series.-Organisation:...
and although Mary Keitany went on to take a clear victory, Ongori beat Aberu Kebede
Aberu Kebede
Aberu Kebede Shewaye is an Ethiopian long distance runner who specialises in road running competitions. Her half marathon best of 1:07:39 is one of the fastest ever by an Ethiopian woman...
in a sprint finish for the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
. This helped Kenya to the women's team title at the event.
The Abu Dhabi Half Marathon was her major race in 2010 and she was the runner-up behind team-mate Keitany. In March the following year Ongori she ran at the Paris Half Marathon
Paris Half Marathon
Paris Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held every March in Paris, France. It currently holds IAAF Bronze Label status....
, but was again second-best behind a fellow Kenyan, this time Peninah Arusei
Peninah Arusei
Penninah Arusei Jerop is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in road running competitions, especially the half marathon. She has represented Kenya at the Olympics, having competed in the 10,000 metres race at the 2008 Beijing Olympics...
. Ongori made her marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
debut in April 2011 at the Rotterdam Marathon
Rotterdam Marathon
The Rotterdam Marathon is an annual marathon that has been held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands since 1981. It has been held in April of every year since the third edition in 1984, and attracts many top athletes. It has also been ranked as one of the top 10 marathons in the world by Runner's World...
and she outran the more experienced Hilda Kibet
Hilda Kibet
Hilda Kibet is a Dutch runner of Kenyan birth. She is the sister of Sylvia Kibet and the niece of Lornah Kiplagat. She obtained Dutch nationality in October 2007....
in the final stages to win the race in a quick first-time run of 2:24:20 hours. She was the first Kenyan finisher at the World 10K Bangalore
World 10K Bangalore
The World 10K Bangalore is an annual 10 kilometres road running competition which takes place in Bangalore, India. The competition was first held in 2008 and usually takes place in late May...
, taking fifth place behind Ethiopian women.
Her elder brother Peter Isaboke Mogere was also a runner. On 19 March 2010 he collapsed and died after finishing a 5000 metres heat at Ruring'u Stadium, Nyeri
Nyeri
Nyeri is a town in situated in the Central Highlands of Kenya Kenya, which was the administrative headquarters of the country's former Central Province...
.
Achievements
- 8th 2007 World Championships, 10,000m2007 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 10000 metresThe women's 10,000 metres event at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics took place on 25 August 2007 at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan.-Medallists:-Records:-Results:-References:* - IAAF.org...
2009 Ras Al Khaimah Half MarathonRas Al Khaimah Half MarathonRas Al Khaimah Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.The first edition, in 2007, saw Samuel Wanjiru breaking the world record, but Wanjiru himself set a new world record only a month later in another race...
2009 World Half Marathon Championships2009 IAAF World Half Marathon ChampionshipsThe 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series.-Organisation:...
(1st in team race) 2011 Rotterdam MarathonRotterdam MarathonThe Rotterdam Marathon is an annual marathon that has been held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands since 1981. It has been held in April of every year since the third edition in 1984, and attracts many top athletes. It has also been ranked as one of the top 10 marathons in the world by Runner's World...
Personal bests
- 800 metres800 metresThe 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
- 2:05.56 min (2004) - 1500 metres1500 metresThe 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
- 4:11.86 min (2004) - 3000 metres3000 metresThe 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
- 8:47.88 min (2007) - 5000 metres5000 metresThe 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
- 14:50.15 min (2007) - 10,000 metres - 31:18.85 min (2006)
- Half marathonHalf marathonA half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
- 1:07:38 hrs (2009) - MarathonMarathonThe marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
- 2:24:20 (2011)